Google Has No Plans To Release Pixel Watch This Year https://i2.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/wearos-redesign-featured-web.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1

Alongside the upcoming Pixel 3 series expected to launch in October, Google has been rumored to be bringing its first-ever wearable – the Pixel Watch in tow as well. However, Google has today confirmed that it has no plans to release a Pixel-branded smartwatch later this year.

In an interview with Tom’s Guide, Google’s director of engineering for Wear OS, Miles Barr told the publication that Mountain View is currently focusing on new smartwatches bring built by its partners including LG, Fossil, Huawei, and others. This has also been confirmed by Google’s PR representatives.

This pretty much puts a nail in the coffin, ending all of the rumors around the launch of a Pixel Watch. Barr further added, “To think of a one-size-fits-all watch, I don’t think we’re there yet.”

The rumors of Google launching its own smartwatch, the Pixel Watch, started making the rounds of the Internet after master tipster Evan Blass tweeted about the same. However, Barr implies that the tech giant isn’t interested in building its own wearable hardware for now but he talks about what we could expect if the Pixel Watch ever came to fruition. He says,

Our Google Pixel line of phones is the best experience and Google’s take on it, so I imagine we would focus heavily on the [Google] Assistant to integrate AI and machine learning into the device, which is Google’s forte.

So, Google seems to be waiting to examine the response towards its rebranded Wear OS software before rushing to build its own smartwatch. The company has already started to adjust its approach towards Wear OS (formerly known as Android Wear) to streamline its experience.

Wear OS just recently snagged a major update that focuses on easier navigation, fitness goals and proactive Google Assistant integration. This update, coupled with Qualcomm’s forthcoming wearable processors, could give rise to some exciting new Wear OS devices.

So, are you excited for the future of Wear OS? Sad about no Pixel Watch launch? Let us know in the comments below.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/google-has-no-plans-pixel-watch/

Poco F1’s Dual Speakers: Pretty Loud But Secondary Speaker Unwanted https://i1.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/poco-f1-speaker.jpg?resize=640%2C422&ssl=1

Pocophone’s debut smartphone is a bombshell and we’ve been seeing its consistent performance in nearly all areas with features that do not belong in this price range. Besides commendable performance, the Poco F1 also offers great cameras. But apart from hoarding the best ingredients for a good performance, and one of the useful features for this palatable experience is the dual speaker setup carried by the smartphone.

Uncommon to most smartphones in the segment, the dual speakers on the Poco F1 are intended to make media consumption delightful. While one of the speakers is placed at the standard, bottom-firing position, which by the way, gets very loud, the smartphone’s earpiece also serves as the second speaker.

At this point, I must clarify the Poco F1 does not really have a stereo sound setup. Instead, the earpiece shares some load off the main speaker’s shoulders. Typically, the primary speaker at the bottom does most of the job while the secondary speaker only produces the treble part, but in a significantly lower volume. This serves in adding a bit of volume and a spatial sense to the audio.

While the dual speaker was a big highlight of the Poco F1 launch, I don’t think the setup is worth the hype. Honestly, I think the Poco boat could have sailed easily even without a secondary speaker, which barely makes any difference. Sorry Poco, but the secondary speaker’s absence would not be felt.

To put this in context, the secondary speaker feels too feeble and is easily veiled by the loudness of the main speaker. The only time when you can feel its presence is when you accidentally – or intentionally – cover the primary one.

I compared the audio output with the Asus Zenfone 5Z, which also features a similar dual speaker setup, and found that the Zenfone 5Z’s speakers are observably louder and marginally clearer. The sound ejecting out of the second speaker on the smartphone – just like the Poco F1 – was shrill and coarse, although a tad bit louder, too.

But the problem lies not with using the earpiece as a backup speaker but with expecting that the earpiece would match up to a much larger driver used in the main speaker. Even much expensive smartphones such as the Huawei P20 Pro suffer from an imbalanced sound – although the quality soars with the price.

If I’ve to gather my final thoughts about the dual speakers on Poco F1, I think it does not enhance the performance in any aspect. Sure, the bottom speaker is pretty loud and clear, but the secondary speaker is just useless, to be honest.

It’s easy to say that the Poco F1 would have still managed to grab much attention even without the additional speaker, especially when the main one is very loud and impactful.

Meanwhile, if you’re curious to try playing music through your phone’s earpiece, you can try out the Stealth Audio Player (free on Google Play Store), which is developed by a senior XDA member.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/poco-f1-dual-speakers/

Poco F1’s IR Face Unlock is Secure, Dependable and Even Works in the Dark https://i0.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/poco-f1-IR-face.gif?resize=600%2C338&ssl=1

The Poco F1 is not only the smartphone with exceptional specifications for its price, it is a machine ahead of its time. The features which have traditionally been associated with premium devices and flagship are now making their way to the mid-range segment, thanks to Xiaomi’s conviction for rebutting price-related cliches and shows an example of its ingenious cost-cutting without compromising the quality of the product.

While the Poco F1 has been much hailed for its flagship-grade specifications and great cameras, the presence of a highly secure infrared face unlocking mechanism is what seals the deal for me. While secure authentication solutions have existed on smartphones like the iPhone X, Mi 8 & Mi 8 Explorer Edition (not available in India), and Oppo Find X, the fact that the Poco F1 brings the feature for a small fraction of these smartphones’ prices.

IR Face Unlock Explained

Instead of using a simple photo-based Face Unlock solution, the Poco F1 pairs an infrared camera with an infrared light source. The light source flushes the face with infrared rays (which are used in remote controls), which are then reflected off the user’s face and then captured by the IR camera.

Difficult to Spoof

This creates a more accurate and three-dimensional picture of the user’s face compared to typical and gimmicky face unlock mechanisms which can be easily fooled. On the other hand, you’ll need an accurate 3D model of a person’s face to be able to spoof the smartphone’s security.

Works Accurately in Low Light

The IR face unlock on the Poco F1 is highly reliable and more accurate compared to traditional systems. In spite of a more sophisticated process, the mechanism is that it does not come at the cost of speed, and you’ll barely notice any lag. The IR face unlocking works even in dim lighting, and I’ve successfully used it in pitch darkness as well.

SEE ALSO: Poco F1’s LiquidCool Technology: How Well Does it Work?

Poco F1 Should Inspire Other Manufacturers

Of course, the IR face unlock cannot match up to the accuracy that iPhone X or Oppo Find X offers, but everything becomes admissible when you take a moment to look at the price of Poco F1. But more importantly, the F1 is opening up new avenues for manufacturers focused in the affordable segment, who can now think about bringing more sophisticated technology to lower price segments.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/poco-f1-ir-face-unlock-test/

Apple’s Self Driving Car Meets First Accident http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

One of Apple’s self-driving vehicles was involved in an accident during the test drive in US’ California, and sustained moderate damage in the crash, the media reported.

Apple’s autonomous car got into its very first crash one week ago in Sunnyvale, according to a report filed by Apple with the California Department of Motor Vehicles this week, The Verge reported on Friday. However, it does not appear that Apple was at fault for the collision as the software was intact.

According to the accident details, the vehicle in question was in autonomous mode at the time. The Apple car carrying special equipment and sensors was hit by a Nissan car from behind. Both cars sustained damage but neither car’s passengers received any injuries, the report said.

Apple has a fleet of nearly 45 test self-driving vehicles in California. The company has also partnered with Volkswagen to help create a fleet of self-driving employee shuttles for its Cupertino campus.

The self-driving cars, touted as the best bet for safe future travel, however, have been involved in some fatal accidents. On March 18, an Arizona woman was killed by an Uber self-driving car. Five days later, the occupant of a Tesla Model X died after the vehicle hit a highway barrier in California and caught fire. In 2016, the occupant of a Tesla running on its autopilot system in Florida was killed in a collision with a truck the Tesla car failed to spot.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/apple-self-driving-cars-first-accident/

Windows 10 October 2018 Update Arrives Next Month https://i0.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/09/windows-10-october-2018.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1

In line with the ongoing IFA 2018 electronics show in Berlin, Microsoft has today announced the official name of its next major Windows 10 update. The Redmond giant is sticking with its naming scheme for the year, with Windows 10 October 2018 Update scheduled to go live sometime next month.

Windows 10 October 2018 update, codenamed Redstone 5, will bring a number of new features and improvements to Microsoft’s desktop OS. This update will debut the cloud clipboard that allows you to sync copied content across devices (very similar to Apple’s Universal Keyboard), Your Phone app that allows you to send links to your Windows 10 device from Android/ iOS or vice-versa.

This update will also introduce the dark-themed File Explorer (finally!), Search previews, along with the SwiftKey on-screen keyboard, and updated snipping tool, Xbox Game bar, and Notepad app. You can also expect Microsoft’s Fluent design to be uniform and other minor tweaks. In its official blog post, Microsoft’s Corporate VP Roanne Sones says,

With this update, we’ll be bringing new features and enhancements to the nearly 700 million devices running Windows 10 that help people make the most of their time.

All of the aforementioned features have been available to Windows 10 Insiders, who have been testing them, for the past few months. The final October 2018 Update build will also first be rolled out to the testers to iron out any final bugs, before being made available to everyone else.

On the other hand, Microsoft has already started prepping its next update, which is due in the first half of 2019. This release is being called 19H1 and is available to its Skip Ahead testers, but there is currently no word of the new features coming to Windows 10 with the next update – due around April 2019. So, are you excited to try out this major update? Tell us in the comments below.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/windows-10-october-2018-update/

iOS 12 Beta Bug Shows Constant Pop Ups to Update Software http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Apple’s latest iteration of its mobile operating system, iOS 12 is slowly but surely heading towards a stable release. It has been, up until now, one of the most stable iOS betas, with people more or less being happy with the state of the software.

However, the latest version of the iOS 12 beta has been hit with a weird and highly annoying bug where users are constantly being bugged (pardon the pun) by the OS to update their software, even when no software update is actually available.

The issue was first brought to light on Twitter after a number of iOS 12 testers posted about the annoying pop-up, and has received even more attention with more users getting affected by it over time.

The pop up usually appears when the iPhone is unlocked from sleep, although in some cases people are reporting that the pop up is being shown on invoking Control Center, or even in random intervals of time, although those reports haven’t been confirmed yet.

According to iOS developer Guilherme Rambo, the bug is caused by a date/time calculation error in the software.

It looks like this method in Springboard does some date/time calculations to determine if the current build is about to expire, every time the cover sheet gets dismissed. For some reason, the latest builds of iOS 12 think they're about to expire. (@davedelong :P) pic.twitter.com/HWe7C0NnIT

— Guilherme Rambo (@_inside) August 31, 2018

So far, Apple has not commented on the bug. However, it’s safe to assume the company will push out an update to fix this as soon as possible. iOS 12 was announced back in June during Apple’s developer conference WWDC, and is expected to be made available to everyone post Apple’s September 12 event where we’ll also see the new iPhones and Apple Watch.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/ios-12-beta-bug-update-pop-ups/

Apple Shares Hit All Time High Ahead of iPhone Launch https://i2.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/iPhone-XS-leaked-image.jpg?resize=640%2C275&ssl=1

Earlier today, Apple sent out press invites to its iPhone launch event on September 12. The event is scheduled to take place at the Steve Jobs Theatre at Apple’s new Apple Park campus.

Riding on speculation that the company is gearing up to launch three new iPhones this year, Apple’s share rose up to an all time high of $228 at one point today. The company is widely expected to unveil quite a lot of hardware at the event including the three new iPhones (two of which leaked earlier today), the Apple Watch Series 4 (which also leaked earlier today), along with a new iPad Pro, and refreshed iMac and iMac Pro workstation desktops.

The Cupertino giant is expected to a have a good year with iPhone sales this time around, a speculation further supported by a recent survey that mentioned around 50% iPhone users in the US are looking forward to upgrading their iPhones this time around.

Of the three iPhones that Apple is expected to launch this year, two are rumored to be OLED touting models with a 5.8-inch and a 6.5-inch displays, and will probably also come in gold colors as suggested by the leaked image from today, and the fact that Apple had sought permission from the FCC to launch gold color variants of its iPhones. The company is expected to launch a third iPhone with an LCD screen with an aggressive pricing expected to start at $699.

Recently, US investor Warren Buffet also said that he has purchased even more of Apple’s stock, and expressed his opinions on the pricing for the iPhone X. He said that the iPhone was “enormously underpriced” seeing as it is indispensable for so many people.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/apple-shares-all-time-high/

Haier Launches IoT-Enabled Smart Laundry Service in India https://i1.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Haier-Smart-Laundry-body-2.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1

Chinese consumer electronics company, Haier, has announced the installation of a ‘Smart’ laundry service at the Indraprastha College for Women, Delhi University. The company claims that it is the first-of-its-kind laundromat service in India, and will cater to all registered students on the campus.

Haier aspires to innovate for its customers and be a technology leader in the Industry. Excited to announce the launch of IOT enabled Smart Laundry solutions.. Stay tuned to our Facebook page for more info. #TheFutureBeginsNow pic.twitter.com/hDdvVkcuud

— Haier India (@IndiaHaier) August 29, 2018

The technology behind the service is based on Haier’s IoT Laundry Platform which was originally unveiled at the Appliance and Electronics World Expo (AWE) 2018 in Shanghai back in March, and is believed to be the industry’s first.

According to Haier, the new service incorporates a fully automated process that can be controlled using a mobile app called ‘Haier Wash’ that is available for free on the Google Play Store. All washing machines that are part of the system are reportedly connected to the cloud, and users will be able to reserve, schedule, monitor and pay for their laundry through the app.

The Haier Wash app will also remind users to take their clothes out of the machine once the washing is over, and will maintain a complete record of their past usage, providing an end-to-end digitally-managed laundry experience, says the company.

The machines at the smart laundromat also feature a specially-developed double sterilizing feature to ensure proper hygiene. To avoid cross pollution and bacteria transmission, the company says the new machines are equipped with ozone sterilization and high-temperature sterilization.

Commenting on the new venture, Haier Appliances India’s President, Mr. Eric Braganza, expressed hope that the new technology will help users maintain a timeline for their laundry needs and bring ease and convenience to their washing experience. According to him, “This initiative is a step towards providing high tech, hassle-free laundry solution to today’s millennials who are fast adopters in this hyper-connected age”.

Click to view slideshow.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/haier-iot-smart-laundry-service-india/

Chinese Intelligence Officials Go Headhunting on LinkedIn to Spy on US https://i1.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/linkedin-body-.jpg?resize=640%2C456&ssl=1

Back in December last year, India’s Intelligence Bureau revealed that some Chinese apps such as SHAREit come installed with spyware, prompting the Defence Ministry to issue a directive telling military personnel to delete such apps. While SHAREit and other companies refuted the accusations back then, a new espionage scandal against China has now raised its head.

William Evanina, chief of the U.S. counter-intelligence division has told Reuters that Chinese intelligence agencies are trying to recruit Americans with access to government files and military secrets using fake LinkedIn accounts. US intelligence and law enforcement officials have informed LinkedIn about the serious issue, and the company has acknowledged it too.

Evanina added that LinkedIn ‘makes for a great venue for foreign adversaries to target not only individuals in the government, formers, former CIA folks, but academics, scientists, engineers, anything they want. It’s the ultimate playground for collection.’

However, neither LinkedIn nor the US intelligence agencies have revealed the scale of spy recruitment operation conducted by the Chinese intelligence agencies. Also, no details about the number of fake accounts and the specific Americans contacted for espionage have been disclosed so far. Paul Rockwell, LinkedIn’s head of trust and safety, confirmed that the Microsoft-owned company has been in touch with US law enforcement organizations regarding the espionage efforts of Chinese intelligence agencies on LinkedIn.

As per Reuter’s report, Chinese intelligence agencies are targeting people with access to military secrets and government files as well as experts in multiple fields such as nuclear physics, supercomputing, nanotechnology, healthcare, stealth technology and green energy among others. The headhunting for recruiting an American as a spy includes government officials, intelligence officers, scientists as well as students.

The Chinese intelligence officials reportedly contact their targets using fake LinkedIn profiles and offer rewards such as a business proposal, academic co-operation and an all expenses paid trip to China among others. China’s foreign ministry, on the other hand, has denied the accusations, calling them nonsense and having ulterior motives.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/chinese-intellgence-linkedin-spy-us/

Journalists Asked to Register WhatsApp Group or Face Action in UP District https://i1.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/shutterstock_734316403-e1535699991559.jpg?resize=640%2C426&ssl=1

WhatsApp has recently been faced with a ton of criticism for not being able to contain the spread of false stories and hoxes in India. The condition has only worsened over the past few weeks and the Lalitpur district administration now plans to keep the journalists on a leash by requiring them to register WhatsApp Groups with the IT department.

As per an August 25 order, signed by Lalitpur District Magistrate Manvendra Singh and superintendent of police OP Singh, journalists will now have to dole out info on all of their media WhatsApp groups. It further adds that those who fail to comply with the same could face legal action under the IT act.

The journalists will need to fill up and submit a registration form, demanding the name, address (with proof) and Aadhaar card, to the Information Department office. They will then have to disclose info on all their media-related Groups, along with the number of members as on August 31st.

The group admins will have to submit a photograph, along with their WhatsApp number.

While this surely appears to be in violation of the freedom of speech, the district admin defends itself saying the order has been issued in the ‘right earnest’ and will help curb the spread of fake news. The District Magistrate in a statement said,

The move has been appreciated by most of the people. It should only be seen as an attempt to check fake news and curb anti-social elements indulging in rumor mongering in the garb of journalists.

While admin wants the masses to believe that the order will end the spread of fake news and is being appreciated by everyone, well, that’s not the case. The directive hasn’t been received well by journalists, who are said to have closed the existing groups to avoid the same.

They are also calling out the administration as the order impeaches on freedom of speech and expression. This order is currently restricted to Lalitpur, just one district in Uttar Pradesh, however, several journalists are worried that the government could enforce this dictum across the state, which is just disappointing.

What are your views on this order? Is the Lalitpur district right in enforcing such stringent measure to curb fake news? Let us know in the comments below.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/journalists-to-register-whatsapp-group-or-face-action/

Uber Reportedly Developing Electric Scooters to Enter the Bike Sharing Market http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Back in April, Uber acquired Jump, a start-up which provides dockless bike sharing services for around $200 million, indicating that the company was willing to experiment with the idea of providing bike sharing services. Now, a new report from Bloomberg states that Uber is developing its own electric scooter technology to grab a pie of the rapidly growing bike-sharing market.

Uber’s electric scooter sharing project is still in the early stages of development and not much is known about the scale of operations Uber plans for the rollout of its scooter-sharing service.

Insider sources have revealed that Uber will deploy Jump-branded electric scooters bought from Chinese manufacturers, but will eventually phase them out and roll out its own electric scooters bearing the Uber logo. Bloomberg’s sources added that Jump makes better quality electric scooters than rivals, which would be the USP of Uber’s scooter sharing-service once it goes live in the United States.

“The way these scooters are failing is a predictable result of the design and engineering process”, said Nick Foley, head of Jump’s product division. However, Foley declined to reveal additional information about Uber’s endeavors in the domain. Uber has applied to roll out its scooter-sharing service in Santa Monica and San Francisco, and aims to make the electric two-wheelers available as a ride-hailing option on the official Uber app in the foreseeable future.

Uber had to face a minor setback in San Francisco a few days ago, when the city’s transportation authority denied municipal permits to a number of scooter-sharing services, including Jump. But the permit was later granted to Jump alongside Lyft, Lime and Bird, all three of which are the biggest names in the segment.

“There’s going to be a lot of innovation in terms of what types of light electric vehicles are out there”, Jump’s founder and CEO, Ryan Rzepecki said. It now remains to be seen when Uber rolls out its scooter-sharing service and becomes the go-to destination for all transportation needs of the masses.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/uber-developing-electric-scooters/

Qualcomm Unveils aptX Adaptive Codec to Deliver High Quality, Low Latency Audio https://i2.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/audio-web.jpg?resize=640%2C390&ssl=1

When it comes to streaming music on a Bluetooth device, uneven latency and quality drops are among the major issues, which is why audiophiles still prefer wired music devices for a better listening experience. To address the issue, Qualcomm has today announced aptX Adaptive, the next generation of aptX audio codec which claims to deliver higher quality audio with minimal latency issues by employing a dynamically adjustable audio compression technology.

As per Qualcomm, aptX Adaptive combines parameters such as audio quality, scalability, low latency and low bitrate audio transmission to provide an unmatched wireless music listening experience. The company claims that the new audio codec detects the audio waves in the surroundings and automatically adjusts the aforesaid parameters to deliver a superior audio experience, be it gaming, watching movies or listening to music.

“Adaptive technology is uniquely engineered to automatically adjust to provide optimum audio quality or latency depending on the type of content being played on the device while also taking into account the external RF environment to support a robust connection”, Qualcomm said in an official blog post. So, how does the Qualcomm aptX Adaptive codec prove to be useful? Well, the new audio codec can compress audio at variable bit rate by identifying the surroundings and the particular need of users, such as attending calls, listening to music or gaming.

So, if you are in a noisy surrounding, the audio will be compressed in a smaller size to make it easier to stream the music file to the connected Bluetooth device, reducing latency issues in the process. In case users are in surroundings with minimal disturbance, aptX Adaptive will compress the audio into a higher bit rate file to deliver a superior quality listening experience.

As far as availability is concerned, the aptX Adaptive decoder will come bundled with the Qualcomm CSRA68100 and the Qualcomm QCC5100 series of Bluetooth audio chips for headphones, headsets and speakers starting September 2018. Qualcomm will also release a version of the aptX Adaptive encoder for tablets and smartphones running Android 9 Pie in December this year.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/qualcomm-unveils-aptx-adaptive-codec/

Xiaomi Launches Mi Wireless Charger (Universal Fast Charge Edition) in China For $10 https://i1.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Mi-Wireless-Charger-body.jpg?resize=337%2C560&ssl=1

Chinese tech giant, Xiaomi, has launched a new Mi Wireless Charger at a price of just 69 yuan (around Rs. 700 / $10). The device, which was seemingly leaked a few weeks back, adheres to the Qi wireless charging standard, and supports universal fast charging at up to 10W.

It will be available for purchase in China through Xiaomi Mall, Xiaomi Youpin, Tmall, Jingdong, Suning Tesco and Mi Home stores from September 3rd, but there’s no word just yet on whether the company will bring it to India.

The Mi Wireless Charger (Universal Fast Charge Edition) features an attractive design, and comes with an aluminum alloy shell with edges processed through CNC. The upper panel is made of silicone to increase friction and prevent phones from sliding off. The device also comes with an LED light that glows when the phone is charging.

The all-new Mi Wireless Charger comes with a number of safety measures, including thermal protection, short-circuit protection, power-overage protection, over-voltage protection, foreign object detection, etc.

The device also automatically cuts off the power when a piece of metal or foreign object is detected on the charging surface. It has a stable sensing distance of up to 4mm, which ensures that metal-free mobile phone cases will not interfere with the wireless charging.

It is worth noting that like most wireless charging pads, the Mi Wireless Charger retail package does not include an adapter, which means users will have to arrange for their own power brick. While it will support 5W, 7W and 10W chargers, the overall charging speed will depend on which type is used.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/xiaomi-mi-wireless-charger-launched-china/

Huawei Launches Mate 20 Lite With Quad Cameras and Kirin 710 at IFA 2018 https://i0.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Mate-20-Lite.jpg?resize=640%2C434&ssl=1

Huawei had launched the Kirin 980 and the AI Smart Cube at this year’s IFA 2018, but it seems like that’s not all. While many were expecting the company to launch their upcoming flagship, the Mate 20 at the event, Huawei chose to launch its little brother, the Mate 20 Lite.

Huawei Mate 20 Lite is basically the Honor Nova 3i in a slightly different package. The Mate 20 Lite is made of metal and glass with a premium curved edge design. The main focus of the front is the display notch which houses two cameras, an earpiece, and other sensors.

The display itself is 6.3-inches with 2340×1080 resolution. It is powered by the Kirin 710 SoC along with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage. As for the cameras, the device houses a dual camera setup on both ends, with a 20MP+2MP sensor on the back, and a 24MP+2MP setup on the front.

The Huawei Mate 20 Lite’s rear camera will be equipped with HDR Pro technology, which should make for better colors in photos. And since “artificial intelligence” is the major buzzword these days, the camera features AI scene recognition. The front camera features Huawei’s own version of Apple’s Animojis called “Q Moji.” Here are the full specifications of the Huawei Mate 20 Lite:

Display	6.3-inch, 19.5:9, FHD+ (2340x1080), FullView, 2.5D, LCD display ( 409ppi)
SoC	Kirin 710 SoC ( (4 x 2.2 GHz Cortex A73 + 4 x 1.7 GHz Cortex A53)
GPU	ARM Mali G51 GPU
RAM	4GB
Storage	64GB + microSD support up to 256GB
Primary Camera	20MP+2MP dual rear cameras (f/1.8), with PDAF, AI-Enhanced Bokeh, Super Slo-Mo, Smart Composition, Intelligent Shooting.
Rear Camera	24MP+2MP dual front cameras with HDR Pro Support, Studio Lighting, 3D Qmoji
Battery	3,750mAh + 18W quick-charge support
Sensors	Fingerprint sensor, proximity sensor, accelerometer, compass
Network	Wi-Fi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, Wi-Fi Direct, hotspot
Connectivity	USB Type-C, NFC, 3.5mm headphone jack
Software	Android 8.1 Oreo, EMUI 8.2
Dimensions and weight	158.3 x 75.3 x 7.6mm, 172g
Colors	Gold, Black, Blue.

The Huawei Mate 20 Lite is priced at £379 for the unlocked version and will be available starting September 5th.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/huawei-mate-20-lite-launched-ifa-2018/

Redmi Note 6 Pro Indian Variant May Ship With Snapdragon 660 https://i1.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Redmi-Note-6-Pro-Snapdragon-660-Weibo-body.jpg?resize=640%2C559&ssl=1

The Redmi Note 5 Pro might have been launched just a few months ago in India, but rumors about its successor have been gaining momentum of late. According to latest reports, the Indian edition of the Redmi Note 6 Pro may well ship with a Snapdragon 660 under the hood. That’s according to a Weibo post by a leakster who is known to have revealed details about unreleased Xiaomi devices in the past.

Weirdly enough, the post has since been deleted, but the reason for that isn’t immediately known. As can be seen from the screenshots grabbed by SmartPrix, before deletion, the post also apparently claimed that the device will come in two configurations – one with 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage, and another with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of storage.

The Redmi Note 6 (and the Redmi Note 6 Pro) have been in the news fairly often over the past few weeks in spite of the fact that Xiaomi has been absolutely tight-lipped about it until now. The devices were recently spotted on Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC), and while that revealed precious little about them apart from their model numbers, it confirmed that they are both well on their way towards becoming the finished product.

It will be interesting to see how Xiaomi positions the Redmi Note 6 Pro in India, given that the company already sells a ton of mid-range handsets at the price-point where it’s expected to be launched. From the Mi A2 with pure Android to the Poco F1 with a flagship-grade processor, the battle in the mid-range segment is now more fierce than ever, thanks in no small measure to the aggressive stance of Xiaomi.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/redmi-6-pro-indian-variant-snapdragon-660/

Poco F1 Users Unable to Download Asphalt 9, Recent OTA Likely to be Blamed https://i0.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/asphalt-9-compatible.jpg?resize=269%2C560&ssl=1

A few hours ago, Pocophone rolled out the first OTA to Poco F1. While the update has brought noticeable performance changes and July’s security patch, it appears to have blocked the pathway for downloading one of the most popular games on the Google Play Store.

Many of our readers reached out to us, informing us that they are unable to download Asphalt 9: Legends on their newly purchased Poco F1. At first, I found this hard to believe as Asphalt 9 has been among the games that I tested the smartphone’s gaming performance on.

Surprisingly, Asphalt 9 does not show up on the Google Play Store anymore when searched from a Poco F1. Moreover, looking up for the game on the Play Store shows an error message, claiming that Asphalt 9 is not compatible with the smartphone as you can see in the image below.

Well, this is a deal breaker for many users who showed immense support for Xiaomi’s new experiment with flagship pricing. Despite great hardware that can run almost every game with a breeze and that too without letting the system heat up, users have been locked out from playing the mind-gripping game.

I am exactly not sure what is to blame for this issue but the only culprit which I can see is the recently pushed software update. This is because I have had Asphalt 9 installed on the Poco F1 for a week and have had a seamless experience while playing the game.

We’ve reached out to Pocophone/Xiaomi and Gameloft to help you resolve the issue as soon as possible. Meanwhile, I must inform you that members of our team have witnessed a similar issue on Huawei P20 Pro, Nova 3, and Asus Zenfone 5Z. While the first two devices received support in a matter of few days, Zenfone 5Z still gets an error message.

For now, there are two solutions – you can either wait patiently for the game or download the latest version of Asphalt 9 from this link. Meanwhile, you can get back to us, sharing the version of MIUI so that we can relate this with the recent update.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/poco-f1-asphalt-9-issue/

Huawei Launches Alexa Powered AI Cube, Which Is Shaped like a Cylinder! https://i0.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Huawei-AI-Cube.jpg?resize=640%2C336&ssl=1

Apart from launching the world’s first 7nm chipset, the Kirin 980, Huawei has also launched its Smart Speaker at IFA 2018.

Despite Huawei calling it the Huawei AI Cube, the device is actually shaped like a cylinder. Why? God knows! But let’s skip the geometry lesson and discuss about the device, shall we?

Where sound meets synergy, the #HuaweiAICube. A powerful speaker in a smart environment. #ExperienceSmarter #HuaweiIFA2018 #IFABerlin #IFA18 pic.twitter.com/iJj2qk4hJU

— Huawei Mobile (@HuaweiMobile) August 31, 2018

Based on first impressions, the Huawei AI Cube looks an awful lot like the Google Home, just a tad bit bigger. It comes with a fuzzy speaker grille down below, and a section that lights up when interacting via voice. However, it comes equipped with a fully-fledged LTE modem/router and a larger speaker chamber.

The 15-watt speaker is backed up by Huawei’s HiSten software for faithful audio reproduction, while the four far-field mics should help Amazon’s Alexa assistant respond to your commands.

What’s more is that the AI Cube can also work as a mobile router, though since there’s no built-in battery you’ll still need to be within cord reach of a power outlet. Huawei is promising cellular data speeds of up to 300Mbps, with Wi-Fi throughput up to 1200Mbps over 802.11ac.

As of now, there is no word on the pricing for the Huawei AI Cube, but the smart cube (cylinder) is expected to launch in the European markets later this year.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/huawei-ai-cube-announced/

Kirin 980 Announced: World’s First 7nm Processor, 37% Better Performance than Snapdragon 845 https://i2.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Kirin-980.jpg?resize=640%2C329&ssl=1

Huawei’s IFA 2018 keynote has begun, and the first thing that they’ve announced is the Kirin 980.

The Kirin 980 processor is the company’s latest flagship, based on the 7nm architecture, making it the first of its kind. The processor is built around ARM’s Cortex-A76 CPU and Mali-G76 GPU, the first with a Cat.21 smartphone modem supporting speeds up to 1.4Gbps, and the first chip to support 2,133MHz LPDDR4X RAM.

The company has compared its latest chipset with the Snapdragon 845, and according to their testing, the Kirin 980 beats the 845 outrightly. In terms of memory, the Kirin 980 has 20 percent better bandwidth and 22 percent lower latency than the Snapdragon 845, which translates into faster app launches across the full range of the world’s most popular apps. In gaming apps, the 980 has been shown to produce 22 percent higher frame rates than the 845, and its power consumption is said to be 32 percent lower.

The facts speak for themselves, meet #Kirin980… #ExperienceSmarter #HuaweiIFA2018 #IFABerlin #IFA18 pic.twitter.com/PIENgbWzr3

— Huawei Mobile (@HuaweiMobile) August 31, 2018

As for photography, Huawei has gone all out and added a dual NPU (neural processor unit) to the Kirin 980, which performs AI-assisted image recognition tasks at a rate of 4,500 images per minute. In comparison, the Snapdragon 845 reaches 2,371 and Apple’s A11 gets only 1,458. Additionally, by using a new dual ISP (image signal processor), the Kirin 980 is 46 percent faster at camera processing than its predecessor, with a related 23 percent improvement in power efficiency while recording, and 33 percent improvement in latency.

#Kirin980: the most powerful and intelligent chip ever. Speed, performance and efficiency like never before. #ExperienceSmarter #HuaweiIFA2018 #IFABerlin #IFA18 pic.twitter.com/jQjwnDCSyy

— Huawei Mobile (@HuaweiMobile) August 31, 2018

What’s more is that the Kirin 980 will offer the world’s fastest smartphone Wi-Fi speed, clocking in at 1,732Mbps, which is substantially higher than the Snapdragon 845’s best of 866Mbps with a Qualcomm modem or 1083Mbps with a third-party modem.

The company also stated that their upcoming flagship, the Mate 20, will be the first device to feature the Kirin 980 SoC, with a release date set for 16th October in London.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/huawei-kirin-980-announced/

Poco F1 Gets Improved Performance, July Security Patch via Update https://i2.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/poco-f1-update.jpg?resize=269%2C560&ssl=1

Asus Announces Free Service Camps in Kerala Following Devastating Floods https://i2.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Asus-ZenFone-Max-Pro-Back-2.jpg?resize=640%2C468&ssl=1

Following the devastating floods in Kerala, Taiwanese tech giant, Asus, has announced that it will offer free service camps in the state for 10 days starting August 30. The offer is available at all the listed service centers in Kerala, and will end on September 10.

As part of the deal, the company says it will forgo all service charges during the offer period, and will also provide a 50 percent discount on the replacement parts for all products damaged by water. The devices, however, should still be within the warranty period to be eligible for the benefit.

In a press statement, Leon Yu, Asus’ Regional Head for India and South Asia, said that the company stands by the people of Kerala in these difficult times. “We understand that such calamities are an Act of God and we stand by the people of Kerala in these times. Kindly accept our empathy and support in the form of a SERVICE CAMP for all the ASUS consumers”, said he.

Asus is the latest in a long line of tech companies that have been doing their bit to help the people of Kerala in the aftermath of the massive floods that is believed to have claimed close to 500 lives in the state since the start of this monsoon season.

While Apple and Google have each announced donations of Rs. 7 crores ($1 million) for flood relief, Reliance Foundation contributed a massive Rs. 21 crores for the purpose. Huawei and Xiaomi have also showed their support by offering to repair all water-damaged phones in the state for free. At the height of the disaster earlier this month, Airtel, Jio, Vodafone and Idea also tried to help out consumers in the state by offering free voice calls and data for a few days to help flood victims stay in touch with their loved ones.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/asus-free-service-camps-kerala/

Indian IT Minister Meets Sundar Pichai to Discuss India’s Digital Initiatives http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

India’s IT Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad recently met Google’s CEO, Sundar Pichai at the company’s headquarters in Mountain View, California to discuss a wide range of topics such as digital transformation, enabling internet access across the nation and the role technology can play in empowering Indians.

Prasad, who is on an official three-day visit to San Francisco and the Bay Area, discussed initiatives such as the ‘Digital Village’ which can receive a huge boost from Google when it comes to connecting villages with WiFi and supporting the government’s digital literacy program.

Held a very meaningful meeting with @Google team at California HQ. Sought greater involvement of Google in digital inclusion programs of India including Digital Village. Asked them to work for creating more awareness among India's farmers about weather & scientific farming. pic.twitter.com/52zJaEarex

— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) August 30, 2018

During his time at Google’s headquarters, Prasad saw a demonstration of some of the cutting edge technologies Google is working on, and how the company is exploring ways to invest in India through segments such as enhancing the connectivity infrastructure, work on Indic languages, AI and the creation of entrepreneurship opportunities for small startups and enterprises.

“Minister said that digital payments have played a pivotal role in the growth of Digital India adding that the Digital India program is very close to PM Modi’s heart and companies like Google could play and important role in digitally empowering Indians”, read an official press release from the Ministry of Electronics & IT.

I felt so pleased to see many Indian professionals working at the @Google campus in California including the CEO @sundarpichai and Ben Gomes, Vice President of Google Search. pic.twitter.com/Pf2feVIJQC

— Ravi Shankar Prasad (@rsprasad) August 30, 2018

In addition to meeting Pichai, the Indian IT minister also held discussions with executives of top tech companies in the United States like Microsoft, GE and Intel among others, discussing business and investment opportunities in India and invited them to strengthen their partnership with the country for growth opportunities. Prasad also talked about ‘the emerging data security issues in India and emphasized that the government was cognisant of the need to strike a balance between data availability, data anonymity, data innovation, data security and data privacy’ in the country.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/indian-it-minister-meets-sundar-pichai/

Nubia α is A New Wearable Smartphone Concept https://i0.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/nubia-%CE%B1-07.jpg?resize=640%2C360&ssl=1

Nubia is one of the top Chinese companies in the smartphone brand when it comes to innovation. And if anything, the Nubia α (alpha) is a testament of the same.

Nubia has teased the Nubia α concept at this year’s IFA 2018, and boy, does it look good. The α is essentially a smartphone, and despite its wearable-like appearance, the Nubia α is equipped with all the key features of a smartphone. In other words, Nubia has fitted a full-fletched smartphone inside a wearable.

The basic design of the device is like a smart band, featuring a metal strap that holds its flexible display in place. The Nubia α is meant to be worn on your wrist, bringing all the important features of a smartphone inside a super compact body. In appearance, the body is a bit bulkier than your regular smart bands, and that’s acceptable given that it likely houses many of the components of your everyday smartphone.

There are two buttons on board, one on the right and another one on the left side, placed symmetrically. You’ll find a camera on top, which looks large when compared to its compact body. We can see a microphone opening as well, just beside the camera, which means it should support calls right from the device itself, without the need for any supporting accessories.

The most interesting part of the Nubia α is the fact that the entire video had English subs, with the device itself featuring the English language, suggesting that the Nubia α could see a global release, that is, once it is released. As of now, Nubia hasn’t shed any light on the specs or availability of the device, but based on first impressions, the concept certainly looks quite appealing.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/nubia-%ce%b1-wearable-smartphone-concept/

Xiaomi Migrates Its India Data to Local Cloud Infrastructure https://i2.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/xiaomi-body-1.jpg?resize=640%2C364&ssl=1

Chinese handset maker Xiaomi on Friday announced it is migrating data of its Indian users to Cloud service providers Amazon Web Services (AWS) and Microsoft Azure that have infrastructure in the country.

“At Xiaomi, data privacy and security are of utmost importance to us. We are taking one more step towards user data security and privacy by bringing our Cloud services to India for all local data needs,” Manu Jain, Vice President, Xiaomi and Managing Director, Xiaomi India, said in a statement.

The smartphone player said all the existing data would be migrated by the end of this year.

All new Indian users’ data since July 1 is already being stored in local servers and all existing user data on mi.com/in/ would be migrated to servers in the country by mid-September 2018, Xiaomi said.

Prior to this, the Indian users’ data across Xiaomi’s platforms were stored in AWS servers in Singapore and the United States.

“I am glad we have been able to turn this around for our India users. With the data stored locally and encrypted end to end, users will be able to enjoy greater access speeds,” Jain added.

The data migration would cover all Indian users’ data across Xiaomi’s e-commerce platform (www.mi.com/in/), Mi Community (in.c.mi.com), Mi Cloud, MIUI (Xiaomi Market, feed, Mi Video, advertising, Mi Messaging, push notifications, etc) and Mi TV.

Last year, Xiaomi had said it was open to moving its servers in the country after the government directed as many as 21 smartphone manufacturers (most of them from China) to outline the procedures adopted by them to ensure the privacy of their users data.

Smartphone companies typically do not store data on their own servers but instead lease space on third party Cloud service providers such as Google, AWS and Microsoft.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/xiaomi-migrates-india-data-local-cloud/

Vodafone and Idea Complete Merger to Create India’s Largest Telecom Operator https://i0.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/MERGE.jpg?resize=640%2C320&ssl=1

Back in July, the Department of Telecommunications (DoT) gave its approval to the proposed merger between Vodafone India and Idea Cellular after both the companies jointly paid a sum of Rs. 7,268.78 crore to the DoT for the merger to move forward. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has now approved the Idea-Vodafone merger, clearing the last hurdle and allowing both the companies to create India’s largest telecom operator.

The merged entity will be listed as Vodafone Idea Ltd and a new board will be constituted after registration with the Registrar of Companies (RoC). A senior executive from the Aditya Birla Group confirmed that the NCLT permission has been granted and an official announcement will be made later today. Vodafone Group owns 42.5% stake in the joint entity, while the Aditya Birla Group owns a 26% stake in Vodafone Idea Ltd.

As per information received from insider sources by EconomicTimes, operations of Vodafone Idea Ltd will reportedly begin on September 3rd, 2018. “Today, we have created India’s leading telecom operator. It is truly a historic moment. And this is much more than just about creating a large business. It is about our Vision of empowering and enabling a New India and meeting the aspirations of the youth of our country”, Kumar Mangalam Birla, chairman of the new board of directors said.

Once the operations commence, Vodafone Idea Ltd will command a reach of around 15,000 branded stores and 1.7 million retail touchpoints across the nation. The joint entity will kick off operations as the largest telecom operator in the country with over 400 million subscribers and a revenue market share of more than 32%.

The merger leaves the Indian telecom market in a tripartite state, with Vodafone Idea, Airtel and Reliance’s Jio battling it out for supremacy. Analysts believe that the merger will again kickstart a bitter price war in the Indin telecom market and might further bring down the tariff prices.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/vodafone-idea-complete-merger/

Razer Announces New Gaming Accessories at IFA 2018 https://i2.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Razer-headphone.jpg?resize=640%2C428&ssl=1

Razer has announced a bunch of new gaming peripherals at IFA 2018, which include a new gaming keyboard, mouse, and headset.

Kraken Tournament Edition Headset

Starting off, Razer has introduced the Kraken Tournament Edition headset. The headset will use THX Spatial Audio which means that gamers can pinpoint where sounds are coming from in the game, useful if you’re playing FPS titles. What’s more is that it would also feature cooling gel in its ear cushions that should help it be used for long periods of time. There will also be custom-tuned 50mm drivers and will work across multiple devices and consoles.

The Kraken Tournament Edition headset will be priced at $100.

Razer BlackWidow Elite Keyboard

The updated BlackWidow Elite Keyboard is a mechanical gaming keyboard which will feature a Multi-Function Digital Dial and Razer Hypershift. It can even be configured via the Razer Synapse 3 software. The keyboard will also use Razer’s own mechanical switches available in green, orange, and yellow. Additionally, there will also be a bundled wrist rest to make extended gaming sessions more comfortable.

The Razer BlackWidow Elite keyboard will retail for $170.

Razer Mamba Wireless Mouse

While the Razer Mamba Wireless mouse has been around for quite a while now, the latest model will come with a 5G optical sensor which will offer up 16,000 DPI. The mouse will also be making use of Razer Mechanical Mouse Switches that are said to be good for up to 50 million clicks. As for battery life, the mouse has also been rated for 50 hours on a single charge.

The Razer Mamba Wireless mouse is expected to be released this September for $100.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/razer-new-gaming-accessories-ifa-2018/

Xiaomi-backed ZMI to Launch Mobile Accessories in India https://i0.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/ZMI-powerbank-.jpg?resize=498%2C560&ssl=1

Xiaomi’s foray into the Indian market has been highly successful, as the company has dominated the smartphone as well as the wearable segment, and its range of smartphone accessories and other connected products have also received a great response. The Chinese smartphone maker is now looking to expand its portfolio of products in the country through ZMI, a Xiaomi-backed company which manufactures a wide range of smartphone accessories.

ZMI has partnered with the Shyam Telecom Group to enter the Indian market and launch over 50 products such as smartphone accessories, audio peripherals and smart home appliances among others.

“We are thrilled to partner with ZMI, a Xiaomi funded-ecosystem company and launching an entire range of products at very aggressive pricing to disrupt the Indian market. Our focus is to provide smartphone users with an affordable-premium portfolio of products and accessories”, a senior Shyam Telecom executive said regarding the partnership.

Thanks to the collaboration, Shyam Telecom will act as ZMI’s India partner to launch products such as chargers, power banks, wireless chargers, projectors, batteries, cables, IoT cameras and audio products among other goodies. ZMI is backed by Xiaomi’s founder and CEO, Lei Jun, and is the exclusive supplier of mobile power accessories to Xiaomi with over 80 million products sold across 30 countries. On the other hand, Shyam Telecom has over 80 distributors across the country and has a sizeable presence in the offline and online marketplace in India.

The partnership has been made official, but no details have been revealed so far as to when the ZMI-branded smartphone accessories will hit the Indian market and from what outlets will they be available. We’ll keep you updated once more details about the ZMI products and their availability is made official, so stay tuned.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/xiaomi-zmi-accessories-india/

‘Star Wars: Jedi Challenges’ AR Game Now Lets You Play as Kylo Ren https://i2.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Star-Wars-Jedi-Challenges-Dark-Side-Expansion-Yoda-body.jpg?resize=640%2C512&ssl=1

Lenovo has added a new Dark Side Expansion for the ‘Star Wars: Jedi Challenges’ augmented reality (AR) game, enabling players to finally be the bad guy. As part of the update that will be rolled out for free from October 1, gamers will be able to play as Kylo Ren and face off against iconic Star Wars characters, such as Yoda, Rey, Luke Skywalker and others.

Lenovo is also introducing a new lightsaber option that fans will be able to buy in real life. The Limited Edition Kylo Ren Lightsaber, which has been priced at $99.99 in the US, is modeled on the weapon wielded by Kylo Ren in recent Star Wars movies, and will be fully compatible with the Jedi Challenges app. It will be available for purchase in the US from this winter, but there’s no word on its Indian availability just yet.

In case you’re unaware of Jedi Challenges, it’s an AR game that allows players to slay their Star Wars enemies using a replica lightsaber controller. The games are compatible with the Lenovo Mirage headset, and requires a smartphone running Disney’s Jedi Challenges app that’s available on Android and iOS.

“Jedi Challenges is one of the most authentic Star Wars experiences that fans can bring into their homes”, said Kyle Laughlin, the Senior Vice President of Games and Interactive Experiences at Disney Parks, Experiences & Consumer Products. According to him, “The Dark Side Expansion offers fans more content and a different perspective to the experience and ultimately extends the story in entirely new ways”.

The aforementioned announcements were made by Lenovo at the IFA 2018 in Berlin, where the company also announced a bunch of other laptops and smart home devices. We’ve got boots on the ground at Berlin, and you can catch our full coverage of the annual tech show by clicking thru this link.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/star-wars-jedi-challenges-play-as-kylo-ren/

Warren Buffett Doesn’t Want Apple to Invest in Tesla, Here’s Why https://i1.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Warren-Buffett-Shutterstock-website.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1

Renowned investor and Wall Street legend, Warren Buffett, has weighed in on rumors that Apple may be thinking about investing in electric car-maker, Tesla Inc. In an interview to Fox Business on Thursday, Buffett, who is the second-largest holder of Apple shares with a stake worth about $56 billion, said it would a “very poor idea” to enter the auto business.

According to Buffett, “It’s not an easy business. You can win in auto one year and lose the next. You’ve got a dozen big companies out there with resources. They’re going to keep coming. They’re going to copy what you do”. He, however, said he’d support whatever decision is taken by Apple CEO, Tim Cook. “I’d support whatever Tim Cook does, but I think it’d be a very poor idea to get in the auto business”.

During the course of the interview, the Oracle of Omaha, whose investment vehicle, Berkshire Hathaway, earlier this week announced an investment in Indian online payments firm, Paytm, also betrayed a sense of disdain for some of recent antics of the Tesla founder, Elon Musk, who has often gotten into self-created controversies through ill-conceived tweets and actions.

Taking particular cognizance of the now-infamous “funding secured” tweet which has since gotten Musk into legal troubles with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Buffett said that the Tesla founder should have corrected himself immediately after his misleading tweet. “If you misspeak, you correct it immediately”, he said.

The developments come in the wake of a series of stunning events that started with Musk tweeting earlier this month that he has secured the necessary funding to take Tesla private, without giving any further details. Musk has since clarified his position, saying that he is no longer seeking to take the company private.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/warren-buffett-apple-should-not-invest-tesla/

Leaked Google Pixel 3 Looks Like a Smaller Pixel 2 XL With Dual Front Cameras https://i2.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/pixel-3-XL-featured.jpg?resize=640%2C427&ssl=1

Motorola One and One Power Android One Phones Unveiled at IFA 2018 https://i1.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Motorola-One.jpg?resize=640%2C397&ssl=1

IFA 2018 is here and Motorola has launched some pretty amazing devices. Motorola has finally announced the Motorola One and One Power Android One smartphones.

Both the Motorola One and Motorola One Power come with large 19:9 aspect ratio display and a notch. However, the Motorola One features an HD+ display and is powered by Snapdragon 625 SoC. On the other hand, the One Power packs in an FHD+ display along with a more powerful Snapdragon 636 processor.

Both the smartphones have dual rear cameras and a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor with a Motorola logo. The devices run Android 8.0 Oreo out-of-the-box, while Motorola has promised an update to Android 9 Pie, along with Android Q update for the phones. What’s more is that the company is really focusing on the software part, with an added promise for security updates for three years from the initial global launch date.

Here is a detailed look at the specifications of both the devices:

Motorola One Specifications:

Display	5.9-inch HD+, with 18.5:9 aspect ratio
Processor	octa-core 2GHz Snapdragon 625
GPU	Adreno 506
RAM	4GB
Internal Storage	64GB
Primary Camera	13MP (f/2.0) + 2MP (f/2.4)
Secondary Camera	8MP
Operating System	Android 8.1 Oreo
Battery	3,000mAh with TurboPower fast charging
Colors	Black and White
Price	$299 (~ Rs 25,000)

Motorola One Power Specifications:

Display	6.2-inch Full-HD+ IPS LCD, with 19:9 aspect ratio
Processor	octa-core 1.8GHz Snapdragon 636
GPU	Adreno 509
RAM	3GB/ 4GB
Internal Storage	32GB/ 64GB
Primary Camera	16MP + 5MP
Secondary Camera	8MP
Operating System	Android 8.1 Oreo
Battery	5,000mAh
Colors	Black, White and Golden
Price	N.A

The Motorola One is priced at $349 (Rs. 24,780) and will be available in Europe, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific starting from September.

On the other hand, the Motorola One will be available in India starting in October, with its price to be revealed later on.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/motorola-one-one-power-ifa-2018/

Sennheiser Unveils its First Truly Wireless Earbuds for $300 https://i0.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Sennheiser.jpg?resize=640%2C353&ssl=1

IFA 2018 is here, and the world is definitely moving into the wireless generation. Sennheiser, one of the most known brands in the music industry, has just rolled out the company’s first truly wireless earbuds, and they’re sure to burn a hole in your pocket.

Sennheiser has introduced the Momentum True Wireless earbuds, the company’s first truly wireless earbuds. The earbuds come with 7mm dynamic drivers that provide stereo sound.

The Momentum True Wireless earbuds are compatible with smart assistants like Siri and Google Assistant. What’s more is that two-mic beamforming helps make picking up your voice in a noisy room clearer, which translates to better phone calls and interaction with voice assistants. Additionally, it also features a Transparent Hearing setting, allowing you to keep the earbuds in while you pay attention to your environment, by blending in ambient sounds with background noises.

The Momentum True Wireless earbuds offer a battery backup of four-hours, and the smart-looking fabric case that houses them holds an additional eight hours of capacity. The Sennheiser Momentum True Wireless earbuds will be available starting mid-November and will go for $299.95.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/sennheiser-momentum-wireless-earbuds/

Lenovo Updates ThinkPad, Yoga, and Chromebook Offerings at IFA 2018 https://i2.wp.com/beebom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/Thinkpad.jpg?resize=640%2C392&ssl=1

Lenovo has just launched a plethora of new laptops at this year’s IFA 2018, and they pack in features that ought to make them one of the best in their leagues.

Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme

The ThinkPad series has been known for its performance, and the new ThinkPad X1 Extreme is no different. The device is outfitted with some of the best hardware in the business and is also the first in the X1 Series to feature an NVIDIA discrete graphics chip.

The ThinkPad X1 Extreme packs in a 15.6-inch UHD 4K display, Dolby Atmos audio, and a 4GB GeForce 1050Ti MaxQ Edition graphics chip. As for its horsepower, the laptop comes with the latest 8th-gen Core i7 (+vPro) chipset, with an i9 variant coming later this year. The device can be outfitted with up to 64GB of RAM (2x DIMM) and 2x1TB of PCIe SSD. Additionally, the 80 Whr battery capacity is the highest among the ThinkPad X-Series, and Lenovo has included its Quick-Charge technology with this laptop as well.

The Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Extreme will start at $1859.99.

Lenovo Yoga Book C930

One of the highlights of Lenovo’s event, the Lenovo Yoga Book C390 is one of the best laptops launched at IFA 2018.

The high-end version of the 2018 Yoga Book is the Yoga Book C930, which packs in a 10.8-inch display, along with an e-ink keyboard. When you type, the keys can animate to confirm the input, and of course, you can open the Yoga Book in tablet mode when reading. The E-ink display is much more power-efficient than the LCD screen and makes it easy to read on. Additionally, the note-taking is still there with the Yoga Book, except that Lenovo has now made it possible to take notes on the E-ink surface, or on the color display.

As for the specs, the laptop comes outfitted with a Core i5-7Y54 or Core m3-7Y30 CPU along with 4 GB LPDDR3 and up to 256 GB PCIe SSD. The device packs in a 35.8Wh battery which should last up to 8.6 hours.

Lenovo says that the Yoga Book C930 will be available in October starting at $999.

Lenovo Yoga S730

The Lenovo Yoga S730 is one of the premium yet portable devices announced at IFA 2018.

Weighing in at only 2.6lbs (around 1.2kg) and measuring just 11mm thin, the Yoga S730 is a slim powerhouse, equipped with an Intel Core i7-8565U processor and up to 16GB of DDR4 RAM. It comes with a 13.3-inch Full HD IPS display along with PCIe SSD storage ranging from 128GB up to a whopping 1TB SSD. The laptop has also been rated for 10 hours of battery life and will also feature Dolby Atmos audio technology.

As of now, there is no word on the pricing or availability of the laptop.

Lenovo Yoga C630 WOS

Taking the off-road, the Lenovo Yoga C630 WOS Laptop is one of the first laptops to be based on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon offerings, powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 850 chipset.

It will also feature the Snapdragon X20 LTE modem which means that in addition to being able to connect using WiFi, users have the option of using LTE. What’s more is that Lenovo is boasting that the Yoga C630 WOS will be capable of offering up to 25 hours of local video playback on a single charge. Apart from that, the device packs in a 13.3-inch Full HD IPS touchscreen display, up to 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and an integrated fingerprint sensor.

As of now, there is no word on the pricing or availability of the laptop.

Lenovo Yoga Chromebook

Lastly, the company has also launched its latest Yoga Chromebook at IFA 2018, and it is nothing short of a powerhouse.

The Yoga Chromebook can be configured up to a 4K 15.6-inch display along with an 8th Gen Intel Core i5-8250U Kaby Lake processor. It comes with 8GB of DDR4 RAM, up to 128GB of eMMC 5.1 storage, and Intel Graphics 620. The Chromebook weighs 4.2lbs and includes a stereo speaker, two USB Type-C, and one USB 3.1 ports as well as a 56WHr battery capable of lasting up to ten hours on a single charge. Last but not the least, the Chromebook will have support for Google Play Store out-of-the-box as well, and all customers will also receive 100GB of free Google Drive storage.

Lenovo has confirmed that the new Yoga Chromebook will be available in the EMEA region from October, with prices starting at €799.

from Beebom https://beebom.com/lenovo-updates-laptops-ifa-2018/